The police on Monday accused two ex-employees of EcoBank Plc – Aghanenu Ikechukwu and Stephen Nduka – of forgery and stealing of N14.4 million from a customer of the bank.
Ikechukwu (41), and Nduka (36), whose residential addresses were not given, were arraigned before Mr. P. A. Adekomaya of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, stealing and conversion, preferred against them by the police.
Prosecuting Inspector Ingobo Emby told the court that the defendants and others who are still at large committed the alleged offences between September and November 2015, at Eco Bank Plc.
He said the defendants with intent to defraud, forged the instruction of one Oluremi Egunjobi Christina, an account holder with the bank.
Emby alleged that “Ikechukwu and his accomplices, on September 24, 2015, “fraudulently converted the sum of N10million from Eco Bank account number 274112825, belonging to a customer of the bank, Rabiu Oladimeji Lawal, to another Eco Bank account number 5322000255, belonging to one Okeneme Samuel.”
It was also alleged that the first defendant and others who are still at large on September 28, 2015 “fraudulently forged and liquidated the customer’s investment into account number 5323007058 to the tune of N4.14million property of the bank.”
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences are punishable under Sections 409, 361(b) and 285(7), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants denied the charges against them.
Magistrate Adekomaya granted the defendants bail in N3million each with two sureties each in like sum.
The case was adjourned till July 11 for mention.